Covid-19: U3A students’ report on the impacts of social isolation on physical and mental health and access to information about the virus during the pandemic

ABSTRACT

Covid-19 is a global public health crisis, which in addition to making victims is changing the living habits of the population. The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of social isolation on the physical and mental health of older adults and to learn how they are informing themselves about the pandemic. It is a qualitative study with a phenomenological basis, composed by telephone interviews with 35 older adults (70,5 ± 4,7 years) of both genders, members of a Brazilian University of Third Age, during the period of the pandemic. The testimonies revealed a considerable degree of concern about the possibility of being infected by the virus, increased anxiety due to tragic news, the growing number of deaths, the collapse of the Brazilian economy and the rising unemployment rate. The group reported sleep disorders, joint pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and reduced functional capacity. Everyone felt sufficiently informed about Covid-19. The main means of gaining information about the pandemic was radio, followed by TV, dialogue with family and friends, and WhatsApp. Only 30% of the participants used WhatsApp, praised because of its multiple functions and the ability to re-read the news.

Acknowledgments

We thank the respondents who participated in the interviews, as well as their families who have always supported U3A activities. At this time of uncertainty and discomfort caused by Covid-19, we would also like to express our support to all health professionals who are working day by day to save human lives.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.